Monthly Archives: February 2024

Passion Posts

Passion blog 3

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For this passion blog, I want to talk about the sea in Istanbul and how it is harmed by pollution.

İstanbul'da denize girilebilecek en iyi plajlar

For people living in Istanbul, the sea is something that they value very much. It provides them fresh seafood to eat and allows them to relax and spend time in during the summer. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest advantages of living in Istanbul. Being able to go to the beaches during summer with your friends or family is a great luxury that living in Istanbul brings. However, despite its importance for the residents of Istanbul and Turkey, it is severely harmed by pollution which is a major issue.

İstanbul'daki müsilaj uzaydan görüntülendi - Son Dakika ...

One of the most notable instances of this environmental pollution crisis occurred in 2021 when Istanbul’s waters were plagued by a phenomenon known as marine mucilage, also knwon as sea snot which is a thick, viscous substance formed by a combination of organic matter, pollution, and rising sea temperatures. This made the once beautiful looking sea look dangerously concerning and disgusting, and its environmental impact was significant.  This event, which caused many concerns among Turkish residents, not only posed a threat to marine life but also highlighted the urgent need for concerted efforts to address and prevent the intense pollution in the region.

Lead used in fishing rod poses risk to Istanbul's Bosporus | Daily Sabah

In addition to the more immediate challenges posed by events such as the marine mucilage outbreak, Istanbul’s relationship with the sea is also influenced by broader socio-economic and cultural factors. As a large city with a heavy connection to the sea, the city’s economy is closely intertwined with activities such as fishing, shipping, swimming and tourism, all of which rely heavily on the health and the vitality of the sea and its marine environment.

İstanbul Üniversitesi'nin müsilaj incelemesi sona erdi: İşte ilk sonuçlar - Son Dakika Türkiye Haberleri | NTV Haber

The mucilage outbreak served as a wake-up call for many people and prompted a need for struggle against sea pollution. This wake up call created a response from various sectors including government agencies, environmental organizations such as Greenpeace and the concerned citizens, especially the residents of the Marmara area(which includes Istanbul). Recognizing the severity of the situation, initiatives were launched to clean up coastal areas, raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation, and implement stricter regulations to prevent further pollution (although the problem still persists). By protecting the health and vitality of Istanbul’s sea, we are not only protecting vital ecosystems and preserving biodiversity of the sea life, but also protect the cultural aspect and economic prosperity of the city that is connected to the sea for future generations.

Bosporus | Strait, Istanbul, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica

In conclusion, the sea is a major part of Istanbul, not only environmentally but also culturally and economically. Because of this, it is of upmost importance to protect it from the destructive pollution problems that it is facing.

 

 

 

sources:

The Most Disgusting Symptom of Climate Change: Sea Snot – The Atlantic

Marmara Denizi’nde Müsilaj Problemi – Çevre Koruma ve Kontrol Dairesi Başkanlığı Web Sitesi (ibb.istanbul)

RCL Posts

RCL 3

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Evaluation of our delibaration.

 

I believe our deliberation went well overall. Although I was nervous, and we had no prior experience with deliberation, I believe that we did a good job.

What went well:

I believe that each of our approaches were well made and explained in the videos. Each approach was creative and unique that differentiated it from the other approaches. This made discussion more interesting and effective. The videos that we prepared were also short and concise that easily explained them to the audience which was another bonus in my opinion. The issue we deliberated was also relevant to penn state students which made discussion even  more engaging for the participants.

 

What could be improved upon:

I believe that we could improve our videos. For my video specifically, I only used 2 images which could be increased. Also, I could have gotten defensive for some approaches and possibly turned it into a debate rather than a deliberation which is a limitation. Moreover, for the discussion of each approach, the person who prepared the video spoke the most compared to the other group members which could be a disadvantage. In addition, during the beginning of the deliberation, the participation of the class members was a bit low which created a slow start. However, the participation of the class quickly increased as time went on. Also, the timing for the deliberation was poor. We spent extra time for the first part which gave us slightly less time to deliberate the 3 approaches.

 

In conclusion, I believe that the deliberation was overall a success. The approaches were well made and explained, the class members were engaged and interested, and every group member contributed. However, I believe that there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially when it comes to timing and communicating.

civic posts

Civic Blog 2

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Public Transportation in Turkey

Travel in Turkey by Car, Bus, Train, Plane, Ship & Ferry

Public transportation is a major part of Turkey, it facilitates the movement of millions of people daily. It is a critical aspect of life for many people as it is their main source of transportation for work, entertainment , meetings and much more. In this blog post, I will describe and analyse the state public transportation of Turkey by assessing its current state, challenges and potential for improvement.

Public Transportation in Istanbul - Turkey Property - Select Turkey

Turkey has a diverse array of public transportation modes. These include trains, buses, metro and more recently, rapid transit systems that connect different cities together. Large urban centers, such as the most populated city Istanbul and the capital Ankara, usually possess most of these transportation modes while smaller towns and the countryside usually offer buses as transportation.

Our guide to public transportation in Istanbul -

It is safe to say that compared to the US, Turkey invests far more in public transportation. This may be due to the more collectivist culture of Turkey compared to the United States. In addition, the economy of the Turkey is in a struggling condition, with fewer people being able to afford buying and maintaining personal cars and having to resort to alternative options. This makes public transportation a much more critical part of Turkey as many people have no other option of transportation.

Travel in Turkey by Car, Bus, Train, Plane, Ship & Ferry

Despite public transportation being more advanced in Turkey compared to US, with it having a more widespread use and different modes for citizens to utilize, challenges regarding public transportation still persist. Congestion, especially in highly populated major cities such as Istanbul, is a serious problem that can lead to delays. This is more than a simple inconvenience, especially for people having to reach work on time as it can become a significant issue for them. In addition, for certain hours, public transportation vehicles can be extremely full which can make it a very unpleasant experience and increase the chance of diseases spreading. Moreover, especially at late hours, some areas can be dangerous for women making them unwilling to utilize public transportation at those hours. Also, accessibility for individuals with certain physical disabilities remains inadequate in many areas, highlighting the need for inclusive infrastructure so that they can use those systems as well.

Turkish-made buses on roads of 87 countries | Daily Sabah

While Turkeys investment in public transportation is great, addressing these issues is necessary for a better and more beneficial public transportation system. To begin with, congestion management strategies to alleviate the large amounts of pressure on transportation networks, particularly in urban centers would be essential. These strategies could include more dedicated lanes and making vehicles more frequent in congested areas. Especially investing in infrastructure upgrades and expanding capacity on existing transit lines would decrease overcrowding Modernization initiatives, such as introducing  high-capacity metro trains capable of holding more people and constructing new rail lines based on the data gathered by where people are going, would be crucial initiatives that would meet the growing demand for public transportation services. These strategies can enhance the flow of traffic, reduce delays and make public transportation a much more comfortable experience.

Ankara'da Toplu Taşıma Araçlarında Güvenlik Sistemleri Zorunlu Hale Getirildi - Haber Sitesi

In addition, making public transportation a safer and more secure experience is another critical aspect of improving it. Enhancing surveillance systems by deploying more cameras, possibly with facial recognition systems, and deploying additional personnel can help create a safer and securer environment for the passengers, particularly women traveling alone at night. In addition, creating a culture of respect within public transportation systems is another imperative step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of all passengers as fights and arguments are relatively common in public transportation in Turkey,

Toplu taşımada yeni dönem - Son Dakika Haberleri

Furthermore, addressing the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities is yet another important step to improve public transportation in Turkey. This includes installation of ramps and elevators at public transportation stations, as well as ensuring the availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Turkey is already making steady progress regarding this area, and I think making even more progress would help these passengers significantly.  Collaborating with disability rights organizations and consulting directly with disabled users would make these improvements even better and more useful.

Toplu Taşımada İmdadınıza Yetişen Mobil Uygulamalar - dergiCE.com

Moreover, integrating new technological innovations to make public transportation would be another beneficial upgrade. Improving smartphone apps offering real-time transit information, route planning tools, and electronic ticketing systems would make public transportation a lot more reliable.

İstanbul'da elektrikli otobüs devri başlıyor - Son Dakika Haberleri

In addition, exploring alternative fuel options, such as electric buses and hydrogen-powered trains, can reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the environmental impact of transportation activities even more.  Investing in research and development initiatives to advance green transportation technologies would severely benefit the environment and reduce Turkey’s impact on global warming. It would also motivate people to use public transport more than their personal vehicles.

Neden Toplu Taşıma Araçlarını Tercih Etmelisiniz? | Blog | Koluman

 

In conclusion, Turkey’s public transportation system faces challenges like congestion and accessibility issues despite notable progress. By investing strategically, embracing innovation, and prioritizing inclusivity, Turkey can build a more efficient and accessible transportation network. With concerted efforts, Turkey can enhance urban mobility, improve quality of life of citizens and decrease global warming.

Sources:

Transportation – Study In Turkey

Transport and Driving in Turkey | Expat Arrivals

Passion Posts

Passion Blog 2

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For my second passion blog, I decided to write about the most iconic aspect of Istanbul which is the Bosphorus and the controversy surrounding it.

Bosphorus in Istanbul | Bosphorus Istanbul (Turkey)

Dividing the city into two, the Bosporus is right at the heart of the city. Its beautiful view is a sight to behold that never gets old.  It is undoubtedly one of the biggest things I miss about Istanbul. For me, It’s a symbol of connection, linking Europe and Asia and the Aegan sea and the Black Sea. It is a vital part of Istanbul that gives the city life. However, despite the beauty of the bosphorus, it found itself in the center of a political controversy a few years ago.

Armistice of Mudros - Wikipedia

Signed in the year 1936, right after the end of the first world war, the Montreux armistice agreement is a treaty regarding the control of Turkey over the bosphorus. It gives Turkey the right to regulate the passing of military ships. However, it does not give Turkey the complete control of the bosphorus.

Because of this, while some people see it as an important treaty that assures the neutrality of Turkey in war time, others see it as a lost economic opportunity. In addition, since the Bosporus is the only trade route that ships can pass through between the black sea and the Mediterranean sea, it can get congested, causing delays.

Turkey Moves Forward with Plans for Kanal Instanbul

To solve this issue, the officials announced a bold and according to some – crazy – plan to carve out a new canal between the Marmara sea and the Black sea called “Canal Istanbul” According to the officials, if completed, this project would give Turkey more authority and control over the canals as well as more economic power since the Montreux treaty won’t apply to it. However, others see this proposed project as a complete environmental disaster. Critics also raised concerns about the likely ecological disruption and displacement of communities that would come with this canal. However, despite more than 2 years passing, the current government that proposed this idea has made no progress which makes it likely to assume that it will never be realized.

Heart of Istanbul: The Bosphorus Strait | Turkish Airlines Blog

In conclusion, the controversy behind bosphorus and canal Istanbul reminds us that as we navigate through the complexities of modernization and globalization, we find practical and applicable solutions instead of crazy megaprojects and appreciate what we have.  The bosphorus is a beautiful and natural part of Istanbul that we should appreciate and protect.